Your pros and cons of every type of podcast event we attended.
Podcast events have long been a subject of debate. Some podcasts even pride themselves on only recording their episodes live. But what about the rest of us – are podcast events worth it?
We look at five different event configurations you could consider for your show and the pros and cons of each:
- A Podcast Launch Party
Pros: Nothing better than a party! And one that is celebrating a big win – like starting a podcast. Splashing out on your future listeners always goes down well, but don’t forget to actually convince everyone to follow you on their podcasting app (meaning you should also have at least one episode up before the launch, too). This could instantly give you some push up the charts as platforms monitor activity and there’s nothing better than a little offline boost from your friends.
Cons: A launch is expensive, and it can be hard to live up to what you think your show would be like. You might realise your show is actually suited to a different audience for example, and then your invites would’ve been different too. Plus, if you are going to spend that budget anywhere, maybe putting it back into the show is a good idea at the very start.
- A Season Wrap Party
Pros: Wohoo, it’s time to celebrate – you finished a whole season! This is a fantastic way to get your guests to mingle with each other and for you to feel like the social butterfly that you are as you are the common denominator. Any event gives prestige to a podcast, so hosting anything – big or small – would be a very lovely gesture to say thank you to everyone who made it happen.
Cons: The ‘now what?’ Unless you have some concrete plans to renew your show for a new season, maybe drawing attention to the ending of one isn’t such a great idea. You want to bring people together to continue your growth, but if you are kind of over your podcast – think again.
- A Live Podcast Recording
Pros: This is a classic. If you want to show off your skills as a presenter/producer/creator of a show, then there is nothing better than doing your work in front of an audience. A live podcast recording can draw in a lot of interest if you have a dedicated audience and it would be a great time for any big announcements and surprise guests. Think about what episodes did the best with the demographic located near you, and try to plan your recording around a similar topic or guest to maximise your success.
Cons: The logistics. A live podcast recording sounds like bliss until you are faced with a microphone that is picking up too much or not enough sound, your guest is mumbling and you are having to re record ad breaks 10 times while your audience stares at you in silence. Be mindful that a live podcast recording has to be well executed to be enjoyable and entertaining, and if your hosts don’t like to ad lib but stick to the paper script – maybe this is one to skip too.
- A Collab Event
Pros: You won’t have to worry about your guestlist. Collaborating with a show that has a similar vibe to yours would be an ideal situation if you are worried about things like: budgets, guest numbers, entertainment value, and even the venue. You could do panels too, which is such a nice way to break up your event with more voices – and sharing audiences between yourselves! Everything is split 50/50 so you are not alone in planning the perfect party.
Cons: Finding your match can be a struggle. What is it that you are trying to say with this event? Are you clear on who is doing what? Think about the messaging you are trying to express to your listeners and invitees – and make sure that your show doesn’t fall by the wayside in a collaborative effort and instead everyone gets their time to shine.
- No Event
Pros: Your show might simply not need an event. If you have a huge international audience or two hosts that rarely meet the same studio, you might be exempt from even thinking about what event would be best for you.
Cons: Events are fun, though. The reality is that while Zoom squares do satisfy our social interaction quota to a certain degree, events are always so nice to attend. It’s a great way to connect with listeners, speak about your ambitions and also to just get to know people who are interested in the same things as you. Don’t rush to get your planner out to book a date, but if you can afford it and would like to give back to your community, a gathering no matter how small, will probably be a very kind and generous gesture for your listeners.
Thinking about planning a podcast event?